Boston, here I come?

Objective: 20 mile run

I did nothing - didn't think last night got as late and whiskey-heavy as it did.  Great job on my part. 

Objective: Make up for yesterday

While being mad at myself for screwing up the last shot at a 20 miler yesterday, I determined I would wake up very early and do the run this morning.  The baby complied by going to sleep early, and I was in bed around 9 last night to wake up at 4 this morning and get the run finished around 7.  I got out of bed on time, got out the door on time, ran a steady and easy pace until passing my condo at the 9.5 mile mark...and my stomach threatened to blow up.  It didn't feel perfect during the run but I was really hoping it would hang on..I actually passed by home, thinking that I'd be okay to continue.  However, after a few steps I realized what a terrible decision that would be and I headed up the driveway instead.  I got home at 6 AM, with a 7:26/mile, halfway completed run behind me and an undeserved taper ahead.  

In the afternoon, I had to take my car into the shop for some body work.  I decided to use this opportunity to get a few more miles in, and spare my wife for having to come pick me up from work in the evening.  My stomach was still not 100%, but it survived the almost-5 mile, mostly downhill run home, which I did at a very good and surprising 6:35/mile pace (6:34, 6:46, 6:32, 6:32 full miles).  So instead of doing a 20 mile run, I did two shorter runs..I'm still not happy with this but it's better than just skipping it all together.

Objective: 8 mile run

Another early morning was in store to get this run in, which luckily came after another early bedtime for the family.  Other than some fatigue in the legs after yesterday's split workout, the run was unremarkable, with a 7:20/mile finishing time and all miles in the 7:12-7:30 range.  I figure if I'm not going to do a 20 miler (although I did one in May, and a 19 mile run in August), I'll have to get some "tired legs" running in somehow, so that's what the rest of this week will be used for.

Pico and back 

Objective: 5 easy miles

This run was scheduled for yesterday, but a fussy baby interfered - so that became this week's day off instead of Friday.  He slept a lot better last night, so I was able to get out and run this morning, keeping a fairly steady and easy 7:15/mile pace throughout the run.  My stomach is slowly recovering from whatever tried to kill it on Monday, and hopefully it survives the final 2 1/2 week push to the marathon. 

Objective: 6x hills

I left the weight vest at home, as I did the hill run in the morning.  The run went well, with each uphill right around 3:00 (for a .37 mile incline), and an overall 7:46/mile pace (which really doesn't mean anything, but I still like to include it).  I'm glad that this was my last hill run of the training schedule, but was also glad to do it and feel good at the same time. 

Objective: 4 mile race pace run

My plan was to achieve my 7:00 race pace goal by doing the miles in 7:15, 7:05, 6:55 and 6:45.  I came close, going 7:18, 6:52, 6:58, 6:42, and most importantly, felt pretty good doing it.  The other part of the plan was to not feel overextended while speeding up, and that worked out well too.  In these final couple of weeks before the race, I'm trying to focus on "easy speed," picking up the pace but not working too hard.